2014 Nissan Murano price blitz

Nissan is offering 2013 model Muranos at drive-away prices more than $8000 below estimated on-road cost until March 31 in a bid to stimulate sales of rakishly-styled but slow-selling large SUV.

The entry-level Nissan Murano ST usually retails for $48,990. Adding on-road costs takes the price to around $53,000 but the Murano ST can be had for $44,990 until the end of March, the importer has announced. And for the the range-topping Murano Ti the price – also driveaway – is now $57,790.

Although the 2014-built Murano ST remains unchanged from the 2013 model, the top-spec Ti gets new safety and navigation tech for the new model year. Driveaway prices are $53,091 for the ST, or $66,464 for the Ti (not to be confused with the discounted driveaway pricing for the 2013 models to be cleared).

The new tech toys packaged as standard in the 2014 Murano Ti include live traffic monitoring via the satellite navigation system, plus blind spot monitoring, lane departure warning and moving object detection systems. Lane departure warning and blind spot monitoring systems are common on many premium and well-equipped vehicles in Australia and are self-explanatory. The moving object detection system employs rear proximity sensors and cameras to warn the driver visually and acoustically if any objects (including humans) move into the car's path when reversing.

Nissan's limited time price cut for cars with 2013 plates is in response to sluggish sales for the edgy-looking Murano, which slumped by almost 50 per cent last year. In 2013 the Nissan sold 1125 Muranos, down from 2145 in 2012.

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